Counting the cost of Tiv/Fulani clashes

The Tiv/Fulani conflict has led to the displacement of over 50,000 persons, Godswill Chris reports from Makurdi

Fear and grief have seized residents of Daudu, a modestly developing town in Guma Local Government council of Benue State following the recent Fulani invasion of some of the neighbouring villages. Over 30 persons died in that attack while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The recent attack in about five electoral wards in Guma and Makurdi local councils has led to the displacement of over 50 thousand persons across over 100 settlements and some villages.

Some of the major towns and villages affected in Makurdi and Guma local government councils include Mbalagh, Agan, Ayaka, Torkula, Yogbo, Udei.

The latest invasion by the Fulani militias leading to massive migration of the people to Daudu, a relatively peaceful town in Guma Local Government has created a big challenge for the state government and security agencies because of their guerrilla style of operation.

According to one of the eyewitnesses, Mr. Igbaja Ibawa from Kwahemba Dam village, who was lucky to escape with his family to Makurdi, the strategy employed by the Fulani invaders caught them unaware, “they attack when we are in the farm, church or sleeping”.

Mr. Ibawa was lucky to have found his way to a nearby village through the bush-path before proceeding to Makurdi to join his relatives, but that was not the same story for his kinsmen namely, Kwahemba Anyoko, Iowuese Inja, Danear Ibi and Kwahemba Dan, who lost their lives in the process.

Narrating his story in Makurdi, he said, “I’m shocked because of the sudden death of these my brothers because these Fulani came in their numbers killing our people and destroying our houses”.

The aftermath of the negative effect of these periodic killings is the influx of people to Daudu and Makurdi towns. Daudu town located about 20km from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, is currently over-populated as the people live in abject poverty and poor sanitary conditions with no assistance from either the state or federal governments.

A visit to Dauda town shows that most of the displaced people in Dauda are either forced by circumstances to sleep in the Daudu market stalls or at the primary schools, while those with relations in Daudu and Makurdi have to make do with whatever is given to them in the name of accommodation.

There is another unfortunate scenario: most of the displaced children are no longer going to school; many of them are seen hawking and engaging in other forms of economic activities to alleviate their plight.

Also speaking, but looking helpless, Torjir Sabo described the lukewarm attitude of their elected representative and the Benue State government for not coming to their aid as very unfortunate. Mr. Sabo whose house was burnt down, lamented the way and manner security agencies are equally handling the ugly situation, which, according to him, has claimed thousands of lives and property worth million since 2011.

The pastor of Mountain of Fire and Miracle, Pastor Augustine Igor acknowledged the high influx of displaced persons in Daudu town, resulting from the attacks in some neighbouring villages.

“Well, we will not stop praying and believing that God will bring this ugly trend to an end.

Speaking further, Pastor Igor said, “For now, the church branch at Udei has been closed because six persons were killed in the church there. The Daudu branch is currently trying to see how to alleviate some of the burdens of the refugees by giving out rice, yam and cloths donated by some members and the little resources the church can generate”.

The man of God however observed that both the federal and state government have not really done enough to address the security challenges in these affected areas, “while there are still drawing out road map to lasting peace, the need to send relief materials to these displaced persons need not be over-emphasized”.

In an open letter to the President by concerned Tiv people of Mbagwen extraction in Guma local government council, the community stated that the Fulani fighters went into the hinterland and villages and compounds, killing and burning down houses and farm produce.

The letter which was signed by the president of the community, Mr. William Iorshagher, the Secretary, Sylvester Ihyah, Chairman, Mbagwen Emergency Relief Management Committee, Ignatius Tsa and Secretary (MERMC) Michael Ubah, pointed out that this barbaric act has rendered the affected persons homeless as they now have no shelter.

The Mbagwen community described the klling of Tiv people by Fulani militias as unacceptable and appeals to the President to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel the remote and immediate causes of constant Fulani/Tiv feud in some parts of Makurdi and Guma.

They equally appealed to the federal government to provide shelter and relief materials to the affected people to alleviate their suffering; they also made a case fro the provision of security at the border of Benue and Nasarawa states, provide grazing areas for Fulani cattle and finding lasting peace and tranquility among the Tiv and Fulani.

The refugees look helpless and uncertain about when to return to their various villages. Before they return, though, they worry about day-to-day living.